Radioactive catheter



June 13, 1967 E. G. ZQUMBOULIS RADIOACTIVE CATHETER Filed Oct. 16, 1964 I N VE N TOR. Z244 G. Zowvaouus United States Patent.

2 Claims. c1. 12s-1.2

This invention relates to a therapeutic device and was evolved with the general object of providing a catheter suitable for treatment of internal tissues by iontophoresis.

Balloon catheters are known wherein a flexible membrane is sealingly secured on an elongated member having a central passage for flow of fluids between the interior and exterior of a body, with means for introducing fluid into the flexible membrane to inflate it into a balloon disposed within the body in a manner to prevent removal of the catheter.

According to an important feature of this invention, a fluid containing radioactive material is introduced into the membrane of a balloon catheter for irradiation of the tissues within the body. Thus the catheter can perform the dual function of providing a passage for flow of fluid between the interior and exterior of the body, and providing treatment of the tissues Within the body. This dual function is highly advantageous in many applications, but in some applications it may not be required that a fluid flow path be provided, and hence the invention is not necessarily limited to a catheter type of therapeutic device.

Another important feature of the invention is in the provision of a pair of electrodes extending into a chamber on a member adapted to be inserted into a body orifice, such as the chamber defined by the membrane of a balloon catheter, the chamber being filled with an ionizable solution and the electrodes being arranged for connection to a source of current for migration of ions to one of the electrodes. Preferably, and in accordance with the first feature described above, the solution is in the form of a radioactive isotope. Radioactive iodine, for example, may be used.

The use of such electrodes in combination with a solution containing a radioactive isotope is particularly advantageous in that ions are formed in the solution and migrate to one of the electrodes in accordance with the laws of iontophoresis, to accumulate and form a solid radioactive source.

This invention contemplates other and more specific objects, features and advantages which will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment and in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a therapeutic device in .the form of a catheter constructed according to the principles of this invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line IIII of FIGURE 1.

Reference numeral generally designates a therapeutic device in the form of a balloon or Foley type catheter, constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention. The device 10 comprises an elongated member 11 having a rounded end 12 for permitting easy insertion into a body cavity. For flow of fluids between the outside and inside of the body, the member 11 is in the form of a hollow tube having a central passage 13 with a hole 14 in the wall of the member adjacent the rounded end 12. The member 12 is preferably of rubber or a similar resilient material.

To prevent removal of the catheter, a flexible membrane 15 is sealingly secured about longitudinally spaced Patented June 13, 1967 outer wall portions of the member 11, to define an annular chamber 16, and a passage 17 is provided in the wall of the member 11, communicating at one end with the chamber 17 and at its opposite end with an inlet opening 18. By supplying fluid into the opening 18, the membrane 15 is expanded to form a balloon which may be spherical as illustrated, or of any desired configuration depending upon the application. Before such expansion, the membrane 15 is preferably pulled by its inherent resiliency closely against the outer surface of the member 11, to permit ready insertion of the device into a body cavity.

According to this invention, the chamber 16 is filled with a solution 20 of radioactive material, preferably radioactive iodine, for treatment of internal body tissues.

An important feature of the invention is in the provision of a pair of electrodes 21 and 22 within the chamber 16 integrally connected to the inner ends of wires 23 and 24 which extend through the wall of the member 11 to the outer end thereof. As diagrammatically illustrated, a battery 25, or other source of current, may be connected through a switch 26 to the ends of the wires 23 and 24. With an ionizable solution 20 in the chamber 16, ions will be formed in the solution and will migrate to one or the other of the electrodes 21 or 22, depending upon the polarity, in accordance with the laws of iontophoresis. With a radioactive isotope in the solution, a solid radioactive source can be readily formed on one or the other of the electrodes 21 or 22.

As illustrated, the electrode 21 is in the form of a ring engaged with the outer surface of the port-ion of the tubular member 11 within the membrane 15, while the electrode 22 is in the form of a wire, which preferably is positioned as shown in its unstressed condition with the chamber 20 filled with a solution, away from the electrode 21, but preferably has a resiliency such that in the initial condition of the device before inflation of the membrane 15, the electrode 22 may lie closely along the outer surface of the potrion of the member 11 within the membrane 15, so as to permit ready insertion of the device into a body orifice.

It may be noted that with the device of this invention, the solution in the chamber 20 can be withdrawn and replaced by a fresh solution, as required.

It is again noted that although the provision of the passage 13 for flow of fluid between the outside and the inside of the body is highly advantages in many applications, it is not always necessary. It is also noted that the membrane 15 need not be necessarily inflated to a spherical shape, but may take other shapes, depending upon the application, and other electrode arrangements may also be used.

It will be understood that other modifications and variations may be eflected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of this invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a therapeutic device, an elongated member adapted to be inserted into a body orifice, means on said member defining a chamber containing an ionizable solution of a radioactive isotope, and a pair of electrodes extending into said chamber and arranged for connection to a source of electric current for migration of ions to one of said electrodes to form an accumulation of solid radioactive material on said one of said electrodes.

2. In a catheter, an elongated tubular member adapted to be inserted into a body orifice and having a central passage therethrough for flow of fluids between regions on the inside and outside of the body orifice, a flexible membrane sealingly secured on said elongated member, and means for introducing fluid into said membrane to expand said membrane into a balloon within the body,

said fluid containing radioactive material for irradiation of the interior of the body.

FOREIGN PATENTS 297,350 4/1917 Germany.

References Cited OTHER REFERENCES UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Principles of Ray Irradiation by Kuenkel, pages 370- 1/1918 Galligan 128408 X 372 of Gynecology for April 1953.

6/1956 S33 128 1.2 X RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. 7/1963 Mann et a1 128-4 SIMON BRODER, Examiner. 

1. IN A THERAPEUTIC DEVICE, AN ELONGATED MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED INTO A BODY ORIFICE, MEANS ON SAID MEMBER DEFINING A CHAMBER CONTAINING AN IONIZABLE SOLUTION OF A RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPE, AND A PAIR OF ELECTRODES EXTENDING INTO SAID CHAMBER AND ARRANGED FOR CONNECTION TO A SOURCE OF ELECTRIC CURRENT FOR MIGRATION OF IONS TO ONE OF SAID ELECTRODES TO FORM AN ACCUMULATION OF SOLID RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL ON SAID ONE OF SAID ELECTRODES. 